William George Gray

Northview~North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2202

William George Gray, age 74, of Mankato, MN, died Thursday, January 19, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Mankato surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 24, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mankato, with Father Paul Rider officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Hills Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. Monday, January 23, at Northview - Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, MN and one hour before services at the church on Tuesday.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to “Frank and Laura Nelson Memorial Fund” in care of the Y.M.C.A of the Greater Twin Cities at 30 S. 9th St. Minneapolis MN 55402 or the American Cancer Society.

Bill was born October 17, 1942 in St. Paul, MN to Edward and Christina (Nelson) Gray. He graduated from Wasson High School, Colorado Springs, CO in 1960.  Bill attended the University of Colorado, Boulder from 1960-62 and the University of Minnesota from 1962-65 where he earned his Education degree.  Bill began his teaching career at Como Park Junior High in St. Paul, MN.  He then earned his Master’s degree in Education and Specialists degree in School Administration.  He then moved to Lakeville Junior High as an Assistant Principal.  In 1981, Bill moved his family to Litchfield, MN where he was the Principal at Litchfield Junior High School.  In 1989, the Gray family moved to Mankato where Bill was Principal at Mankato East Junior High.  Bill’s passion for teaching and his students drew him back into the classroom in 1993 when he transferred to Dakota Meadows Middle School as an 8th grade History teacher.  Bill was chosen as Mankato Public School’s Teacher of the Year Award in 1999.   He retired in 2000.

On December 30, 1966, he married Mary Chaput in Minneapolis, MN. Bill and Mary enjoyed 38 years of marriage.  They were devoted parents to their children, Elizabeth and Adam.  During Bill’s lifetime, he was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Diocese in Minnesota, and was on the advisory board at Minnesota Valley Credit Union. Bill also belonged to several service groups and was an active leader of the Weaver Grief Group following Mary’s passing in 2004.  During his retirement, Bill enjoyed the Gray family cabin, traveling, bowling, PGA golf, watching Minnesota Twins baseball and Minnesota Wild hockey, and spending time with his beloved grandsons.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Brian Luepke of Mankato; grandsons, Alexander, Jonathan, and Andrew Luepke of Mankato; son, Adam Gray of Mankato and girlfriend Nikki Krebs and her son, Dylan; sister, Barbara Wenschlag of Pequot Lakes, MN; many nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; mother, Christina; and father, Edward.